Inbaseball andsoftball, adouble play (denoted asDP inbaseball statistics) is the act of making twoouts during the same continuous play. Double plays can occur any time there is at least onebaserunner and fewer than two outs.
to aninfielder or the pitcher, who throws the ball to one of themiddle infielders, who steps on second base toforce out the runner coming from first (first out), and then throws the ball to thefirst baseman in time to force out thebatter (second out). As both outs are made by force plays, this is referred to as a "force double play".[1] This is the most common double play. Theneighborhood play is a source of controversy, as umpires sometimes call the runner at second base out despite the infielder not clearly touching that base, but merely being "in the neighborhood".
to the first baseman, who steps on first base to force out the batter (first out), and with the baserunner trying to advance from first base to second base, throws the ball to theshortstop who puts out the runner (second out). This is referred to as a "reverse force double play",[1] although executing the first out removes the condition that forced the runner to take second base. The second out is not a force play and must be made with atag.
Thebatter hits the ball in the air
a line drive to the first baseman, who catches it (first out), and then steps on first base before the baserunner can return to first totag up (second out). This is also an example of an unassisted double play.
a deepfly ball to theright fielder, who catches it (first out), meanwhile the baserunner tags up and attempts to advance, and the outfielder throws the ball to the shortstop who tags the runner before he reaches second base (second out).
Meanwhile, the runner attempts tosteal second base, and thecatcher throws the ball to amiddle infielder, who tags the runner before he reaches the base (second out). This is colloquially known as a "strike 'em out, throw 'em out" double play.
Double plays can occur in many ways in addition to these examples, and can involve many combinations of fielders. A double play can include an out resulting from a rare event, such asinterference or anappeal play.
Per standardbaseball positions, the examples given above are recorded, respectively, as:
4-6-3 (second baseman to shortstop to first baseman) or 6-4-3 (shortstop to second baseman to first baseman). Other combinations start with 1 (pitcher), 3 (first baseman), or (5third baseman), followed by 6-3 or 4-3 depending on which middle infielder is covering second base on the play.
3-6 (first baseman to shortstop)
3 (first baseman), unassisted
9-6 (right fielder to shortstop)
K (strike out), 2-6 CS (caught stealing, catcher to shortstop) or 2-4 CS (caught stealing, catcher to second baseman)
Double plays that are initiated by a batter hitting a ground ball are recorded in baseball statistics asGIDP (grounded into double play). This statistic has been tracked since 1933 in theNational League and since 1939 in theAmerican League.[3] This statistic does not include line-outs into double plays, for which there is no official statistic for a batter.
The double play is a coup for the fielding team and debilitating to the batting team. The fielding team can select pitches to induce a double play — such as asinker, which is more likely to be hit as a ground ball — and can position fielders to make a ground ball more likely to be turned into a double play. The batting team may take action — such as ahit and run play — to reduce the chance of grounding into a force double play.
Inbaseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two" or a "twin killing" (a play on "twin billing", a moviehouse offering two features on the same ticket). Double plays are also known as "the pitcher's best friend" because they disrupt offense more than any other play, except for the raretriple play. A force double play made on a ground ball hit to the third baseman, who throws to the second baseman, who then throws to the first baseman, is referred to as an "around the horn" double play.
The ability to "make the pivot" on a force double play – receiving a throw from the third base side, then quickly turning and throwing to first base – is a key skill for a second baseman.
The most famous double play trio—although they never set any records—wereJoe Tinker,Johnny Evers andFrank Chance, who were the shortstop, second baseman and first baseman, respectively, for theChicago Cubs between 1902 and 1912.[4] Their double play against theNew York Giants in a 1910 game inspired Giants fanFranklin Pierce Adams to write the short poemBaseball's Sad Lexicon, otherwise known asTinker to Evers to Chance, which immortalized the trio.[5] All three players were part of the Cubs team that won theNational League pennant in 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1910, and theWorld Series in 1907 and 1908, turning 491 double plays on the way.[6] They were elected to theNational Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.[5]
The New York Yankees recorded a rare 4-1-5 double play against the San Francisco Giants on July 24, 2016, in the top of the 8th inning. The Giants hadMac Williamson on first base with one out, whenRamiro Peña hit a ground ball that got by Yankees' first basemanMark Teixeira but was fielded on the edge of the outfield grass byStarlin Castro. Castro threw to pitcherChad Green at first base to retire Peña. Meanwhile, Williamson had rounded second on his way to third, and a throw from Green to third basemanChase Headley resulted in Williamson being tagged out, ending the inning.[7][8]
A bizarre 8-6-2 double play occurred in a nationally televised game between theNew York Yankees andChicago White Sox on August 2, 1985, in the bottom of the 7th inning. WithBobby Meacham on second base andDale Berra on first base,Rickey Henderson hit a single to deep left-center field. Berra ran quickly from first to second, while Meachem stopped his run towards third to return to second base to tag up (expecting the ball would be caught). After the ball was not caught, both runners – now within a few yards of each other – ran to third and then tried to score. A throw fromLuis Salazar in centerfield toOzzie Guillén at shortstop was relayed to catcherCarlton Fisk in time for him to tag out both Meacham and Berra at the plate.[9][10]
A 9-2-7-2 double play on July 9, 1985, effectively ended the career ofToronto Blue Jays catcherBuck Martinez. WithPhil Bradley – a former University of Missouri football player – on second base,Gorman Thomas hit a single to right field. As Bradley rounded third, Blue Jays right fielderJesse Barfield charged and fielded the ball and threw to Martinez, who had just enough time to catch the ball before being struck by a charging Bradley. Despite suffering a broken leg and severely dislocated ankle, Martinez maintained control of the ball and registered the out at home plate. As Thomas rounded second, Martinez attempted to throw to third base from a seated position, but the ball missed the third baseman and went into left field. On theerror, Thomas rounded third in an attempt to score. Left fielderGeorge Bell fielded the ball near the left-field foul line and quickly returned the ball with a perfect one-hop throw to the still seated and virtually immobile Martinez, who tagged out Thomas.[13][14][15]
On July 30, 2014, a 1-6-1-5 double play occurred without the ball being put into play in top of the 6th inning a game between thePittsburgh Pirates andSan Francisco Giants. Giants relieverJean Machi, having inheritedGaby Sanchez (as a pinch-runner forIke Davis) andTravis Snider as base-runners and having allowed a sacrifice toJordy Mercer, issued a one-outwalk toChris Stewart with first base open. However, since the ball is still live on a walk, Machi, noticing that Snider was well off second base, threw the ball to shortstopBrandon Crawford, who chased down and tagged out Snider for the second out of the inning. Crawford then saw Sanchez having vacated third base and trying to score, and so Crawford threw the ball to Machi (by now in the third base line) to chase Sanchez back to third. Machi then threw the ball toPablo Sandoval, who chased down and tagged out Sanchez for the third out.[16]
Another double play without the ball being put into play happened on June 25, 2019, between theAtlanta Braves andChicago Cubs atWrigley Field. In the bottom of the second inning, Braves starterMax Fried walkedJavier Báez andWillson Contreras, then after striking outDavid Bote, walkedAddison Russell to load the bases and bring up Cubs pitcherAdbert Alzolay to the plate with one out. Alzolay attempted to bunt on the first pitch he saw from Fried, but missed. Báez, already taking off for home, was then caught in a run-down by Braves catcherBrian McCann between third base and home plate, who then threw to third basemanJosh Donaldson, who then chased down Báez for the second out. Moving over to cover third, Braves shortstopDansby Swanson then received a throw from Donaldson to tag out Contreras attempting to advance to third, ending the inning. The play was scored 2-5-6.[17]
Shifts away from normal defensive alignment can create scenarios in which unusual double plays can occur.
During the April 12, 2008, game between theNew York Yankees and theBoston Red Sox, in the top of the 7th inning the Boston infield was shifted right for New York left-handed power hitterJason Giambi, with a baserunner on first. Giambi grounded to second basemanDustin Pedroia, who threw to third basemanKevin Youkilis, covering second due to the shift. Youkilis tagged second, then threw to first basemanSean Casey to complete the rare 4-5-3 double play.[18]
The Chicago Cubs turned a 7-2-3 double play against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 2, 2014. Tied 3–3 in the bottom of the 13th inning, the Pirates loaded the bases with no outs. The Cubs then defensively placed left fielderJunior Lake in the infield, near the third base line. BatterClint Barmes hit a ground ball to Lake, who threw home for one out, and the catcher then threw to first base for the second out.[19][20]
A play can also last long enough to where an outfielder is able to reach the infield to record a double play. During the August 13, 2019 game between theArizona Diamondbacks and theColorado Rockies, in the top of the 8th inning, with one out andNick Ahmed on third andWilmer Flores at first, Diamondbacks outfielderJarrod Dyson hit a sharp grounder to Rockies' first basemanDaniel Murphy. Ahmed broke on contact for home plate, and with the Rockies already down 9–2, Murphy, playing in to try to prevent another run from scoring, elected to bluff a throw home to keep Ahmed from being able to score. In the process, Murphy was able to run across the baseball diamond with the ball and tag Ahmed out before he could return to third base. Meanwhile, Flores had remained on second, but Dyson was heading toward second. Noticing this, Murphy then threw to second basemanRyan McMahon, who chased back Dyson toward second, near where Flores remained. McMahon then threw back toward Murphy, causing Dyson to return to first. Murphy then threw over to first base, where Rockies pitcherChad Bettis, now having reached first base, was positioned, to chase Dyson away from first. By this time,Garrett Hampson, a natural second baseman playing center field as a defensive substitute, had reached the infield, took the throw from Bettis, who then tagged out Dyson between first and second to end the half-inning. The play, lasting more than 20 seconds in total, was scored 3-4-3-1-8.[21]
TheSt. Louis Cardinals recorded a 3-2-5-4-2-8-6 double play against the Chicago Cubs on September 25, 2021. With the Cubs batting in the bottom of the 8th inning, down 5-4,David Bote led off the inning with a triple to left field off pitcher T.J. McFarland.Trayce Thompson walked on a 3-1 count, and Sergio Alcantara struck out swinging for the first out. With one out, on a 1-1 count, runners on first and third base,Rafael Ortega hit a ground ball to first basemanPaul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt fielded the ball to catcherYadier Molina, whom he and the third basemanNolan Arenado forced Bote into a rundown between third and home. Molina fielded the ball to Arenado, who tagged Bote for the second out. Arenado fielded the ball to second basemanTommy Edman, who threw it back to Molina, who was between second and third base. He fielded the ball to center fielderHarrison Bader, who was at second. Bader threw the ball to shortstopPaul DeJong, who tagged Thompson to complete the 3-2-5-4-2-8-6 double play.[22]
On August 27, 2023, theSan Francisco Giants recorded a rare 3-1-4-2 double play against theAtlanta Braves. With the Braves batting with one out in the top of the fifth inning,Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a slow roller toward first base that was fielded by first basemanJ. D. Davis, who flipped the ball to pitcherScott Alexander, who in turn underhanded the ball to second basemanThairo Estrada at first base to force out Acuña. Estrada then threw to catcherPatrick Bailey, whose glove brushed the batting gloves inOrlando Arcia's back pocket for the out at home, ending the inning.[23] It was the first time in the expansion era that a 3-1-4-2 play has been turned.[24]
The team record for a single game is seven GIDPs, set by theSan Francisco Giants on May 4, 1969, in a 3–1 loss to the Houston Astros. ThePittsburgh Pirates suffered seven double plays (only six GIDPs) on August 17, 2018, in a 1–0 loss to theChicago Cubs.[28][29] The1990 Boston Red Sox grounded into 174 double plays to set the single season team record.[30]
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